Cold War and the Post-WWII World

Impact after WWII After WWII, there were two global superpowers: the U.S. and the U.S.S.R. The two nations had very different ideologies: Capitalism and Communism. Both groups sought to rebuild Europe according to their ideologies. The U.S. offered European nations financial support for rebuilding called the Marshall Plan, named after Sec. of State George Marshall. President Truman also created the Truman Doctrine which stated the U.S. would help out any country fighting against Communists. After WWII, there were two global superpowers: the U.S. and the U.S.S.R. The two nations had very different ideologies: Capitalism and Communism. Both groups sought to rebuild Europe according to their ideologies. The U.S. offered European nations financial support for rebuilding called the Marshall Plan, named after Sec. of State George Marshall. President Truman also created the Truman Doctrine which stated the U.S. would help out any country fighting against Communists.

Division of Europe The U.S.S.R. did not allow Marshall Plan aid to countries in Eastern Europe. This effectively split Europe into two parts. The liberal West included: Britain, France, West Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Austria, Belgium, Luxemburg, the Netherlands, Ireland, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Greece, and Turkey. The Eastern Bloc included: East Germany, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Yugoslavia, Bulgaria, Romania, and Albania. The U.S.S.R. did not allow Marshall Plan aid to countries in Eastern Europe. This effectively split Europe into two parts. The liberal West included: Britain, France, West Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Austria, Belgium, Luxemburg, the Netherlands, Ireland, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Greece, and Turkey. The Eastern Bloc included: East Germany, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Yugoslavia, Bulgaria, Romania, and Albania.

Containment and China The U.S. did not want to fight another world war. Diplomat George Kennan advocated a policy of containment. This meant not directly attacking the U.S.S.R., but checking any possible expansion. The Cold War became more complicated in 1949 with the revolution in China that brought Mao Zedong and his Communist to power. The U.S. became increasingly concerned with the spread of Communism. The U.S. did not want to fight another world war. Diplomat George Kennan advocated a policy of containment. This meant not directly attacking the U.S.S.R., but checking any possible expansion. The Cold War became more complicated in 1949 with the revolution in China that brought Mao Zedong and his Communist to power. The U.S. became increasingly concerned with the spread of Communism.

Hot Conflicts in the Cold War The Cold War was called “cold” because the U.S. and the U.S.S.R. did not fight directly. Instead there were a number of “proxy wars” where Communist and Capitalist groups fought. The Korean War ( ) was fought between the Communist North and Democratic South The Vietnam War (~ ) was fought between the Communist North and the Democratic South. The Soviet-Afghan War ( ) was fought between Communist government and the U.S.-backed Muhajideen. The Cold War was called “cold” because the U.S. and the U.S.S.R. did not fight directly. Instead there were a number of “proxy wars” where Communist and Capitalist groups fought. The Korean War ( ) was fought between the Communist North and Democratic South The Vietnam War (~ ) was fought between the Communist North and the Democratic South. The Soviet-Afghan War ( ) was fought between Communist government and the U.S.-backed Muhajideen.

Conflicts in Eastern Europe Under authoritarian Soviet control, many Eastern European countries experienced internal conflicts. In Berlin, many East Germans were escaping to the West through West Berlin. In 1961, the Soviets built the Berlin Wall to stop the exodus. In the 1950s and 1960s, Hungary and Czechoslovakia tried to reform their governments, but Soviet troops crushed the attempts to reform. Under authoritarian Soviet control, many Eastern European countries experienced internal conflicts. In Berlin, many East Germans were escaping to the West through West Berlin. In 1961, the Soviets built the Berlin Wall to stop the exodus. In the 1950s and 1960s, Hungary and Czechoslovakia tried to reform their governments, but Soviet troops crushed the attempts to reform.

The Third World After WWII, the non-Western world underwent huge changes. Nations throughout Africa and Asia gained independence from imperial European governments. These newly independent nations felt pressured to choose sides, either the U.S. or the U.S.S.R. In 1955, these non-aligned nations met in Bandung, Indonesia and declared they could be a “third world” not allied with the U.S. or the U.S.S.R. While many countries may have desired to be outside of the Cold War, they had difficulty actually doing it. After WWII, the non-Western world underwent huge changes. Nations throughout Africa and Asia gained independence from imperial European governments. These newly independent nations felt pressured to choose sides, either the U.S. or the U.S.S.R. In 1955, these non-aligned nations met in Bandung, Indonesia and declared they could be a “third world” not allied with the U.S. or the U.S.S.R. While many countries may have desired to be outside of the Cold War, they had difficulty actually doing it.

The Third World In addition to the “proxy wars,” there were internal conflicts throughout the world, especially in Latin America. In Chile in 1973, the U.S. helped install dictator Augusto Pinochet and ousted Salvador Allende. In 1979, Sandinista rebels led by Daniel Ortega overthrew the U.S.-backed government of Anastasio Somoza. From there was a civil war in El Salvador between the U.S.-supported government and Communist backed rebels. In addition to the “proxy wars,” there were internal conflicts throughout the world, especially in Latin America. In Chile in 1973, the U.S. helped install dictator Augusto Pinochet and ousted Salvador Allende. In 1979, Sandinista rebels led by Daniel Ortega overthrew the U.S.-backed government of Anastasio Somoza. From there was a civil war in El Salvador between the U.S.-supported government and Communist backed rebels.

The Fall of the Soviet Union In 1986, Mikhail Gorbachev came to power in the Soviet Union and began making governmental reforms. Gorbachev’s policies of perestroika (restructing) and glasnost (openness) opened opportunities for private business and made the government more transparent. In 1989, the Berlin Wall was taken down. In 1990, Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia declared independence from the U.S.S.R. In 1991,Gorbachev lost control of the republics of the U.S.S.R. and Boris Yeltsin came to power in Russia effectively ending the Soviet Union. In 1986, Mikhail Gorbachev came to power in the Soviet Union and began making governmental reforms. Gorbachev’s policies of perestroika (restructing) and glasnost (openness) opened opportunities for private business and made the government more transparent. In 1989, the Berlin Wall was taken down. In 1990, Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia declared independence from the U.S.S.R. In 1991,Gorbachev lost control of the republics of the U.S.S.R. and Boris Yeltsin came to power in Russia effectively ending the Soviet Union.